Why does my John Deere mower choke down when I turn hard left or on a slope where right side is lower than the left but runs fine otherwise.?

Question

If I am on level ground, turning right or where the left side of the mower is lower the mower runs and cuts fine. But if I try to turn hard left (as in cutting around trees/shrubs), even cutting in a straight line where the right side of the mower is lower than the left, it chokes, sputters and stops unless I disengage the blade and lower the engine to an idle.

I have drained the carburetor and fuel line and drained and cleaned the fuel tank so I know it doesn't have to do with anything in the fuel.

? · Accepted Answer

First, I am not a small engine man and anything I state here is just a guess.  I do know how carburetors work and I am just thinking that may be it's the float valve.

The float valve opens and closes based on the level in the float bowl.  If it gets out of adjustment it can cause the engine to run rich from getting to much has or lean, not getting enough gas.

Running rich will seem like it was full choke as there will be more gas, less air.

When you lean it upsets the fuel level and may be flooding the carburetor.

Going back in my memory, I seem to remember Dad adjusting this on a car carburetor.  This is something you may want to have a small engine mechanic check out.

While I have a hard time believing that this would change by itself, if you had it a part to clean or anything else, you may got it out of alignment.

Check you oil level.  Some engine have a low oil cut off switch.  Oil sloshing could cause this.

Harper · Answer

is part of your fuel system [carb bowl?] gravity feed? if, so, tilting the mower may cause the carb to temporarily be unable to supply gas

Burgess · Answer

is part of your fuel system [carb bowl?] gravity feed? if, so, tilting the mower may cause the carb to temporarily be unable to supply gas

Spock (rhp) · Answer

is part of your fuel system [carb bowl?] gravity feed? if, so, tilting the mower may cause the carb to temporarily be unable to supply gas

champer · Answer

If it does this when the fuel is low, it may be that the feed pipe from the tank is on the left hand side and gets exposed when the fuel sloshes to one side during a left turn or tilt to the right.

If it's not this I suspect a problem with the carb float.

Laurie · Answer

It may be your gas tank. If the gas tank tubing flows to the left, and gas is low in the tank, when you tip to the right, the tank "thinks" it is empty. You can check this by making sure that your tank is as full as possible, and then cut with the right side lowered, and see if it still happens.

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Why does my John Deere mower choke down when I turn hard left or on a slope where right side is lower than the left but runs fine otherwise.?

6 Answers